Before and After

I have been passing these two High Rises for the last few months, thinking I should take a picture trying to get both in the same shot whilst they still look very different.

They are close to the A6 at Pendleton, the one in the foreground is Thorn Court, the one behind is Spruce Court. They started out looking similar, but Spruce is now largely (but still not completely, 3 window openings are still oddly old-style) re-clad.

They are getting energy efficient insulation, new double glazed windows, new kitchens and new bathrooms. Visually, it is a startling change. All part of the £650m redevelopment of Pendleton by the Together group and Keepmoat.

The tenants continue to live in the flats whilst this is all going on, which I imagine is a real challenge for many of them. One thing they will have a view of today - I could see it at one point as I approached along the A6 - is a snow covering on distant Kinder Scout.

Pendleton has seen real change over the years. Pre 1960's it was Hanky Park, lots of "slum" housing that was cleared, the setting for Walter Greenwood' s "Love on the Dole". The new blocks that replaced the victorian terraces were themselves not successful, and there have been continuing efforts to sort it all out. Let's hope this latest effort is successful.